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Portsmouth: (From the Morning Chronicle, July 17, [1848].) On Saturday, soon after two o'clock, the following squadron put to sea from Spithead, to cruise under the order of Sir Charles Napier, between that roadstead and ten degrees southwest of Cape Clear:- Sailing vessels: Screw steam vessels: Being a total force of 11 ships, mounting 466 guns, with 3900 officers, men, and boys. The fineness of the day, and the popularity of the sight, drew to every commanding position ashore, and to innumerable boats upon the water, a vast multitude of sightseers. To give a character to the event, as well as to exercise the duty of their office, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty proceeded from London to ascertain the efficiency of the squadron, and to order and witness its departure. The Right Hon. the Earl of Auckland and Capt. Milne, with Lord de Ros, went to Portsmouth on Friday afternoon ; and partook of the hospitalities of the Port Admiral for that night ; and on being joined on Saturday noon by Admiral Dundas, Captain Berkeley, and H. G. Ward, Esq. (the secretary), embarked on board H.M. steamer Lightning, Master Commander J. E. Petley, and went to Spithead to be put on board the flag-ship of the squadron (the St. Vincent), accompanied by a fashionable party of the haut ton who had left town with them. The roadstead of Spithead was everywhere studded with sail of various denominations, each with some gay party on board. The Fanny, sailing yacht of the Port-Admiral of Portsmouth, was, on this occasion, freighted with a party of guests of the Right Hon. Lord Fitzclarence, Governor of Portsmouth. Sir Charles Ogle, the Commander-in-Chief, was with the Lords of the Admiralty. The flag of their lordships was hoisted on the staff at the entrance gates of Portsmouth Dockyard, at eight o'clock p.m., and continued so hoisted until the embarkation of Lords Auckland and De Ros, and Captain Milne, at half-past nine ; after landing this party, the Lightning returned to the harbour for another Admiralty party of about forty personages, whom she also conveyed out to Spithead. When close to the St. Vincent, the Admiralty flag was hoisted in the Lightning, when the Victory saluted it with the usual complement of guns. At twelve o'clock the Admiralty was aboard the Blenheim steam guard ship, and inspected her ; from her the board went to the screw steam frigate Amphion, and inspected her ; they returned to Sir Charles Napier on board the St. Vincent about two o'clock, and in ten minutes after the order was given to weigh anchor ; the squadron accordingly got under weigh. The instruction brig Rolla, managed by boys of the apprentices corps, being first off ; the Pilot sloop was away next, and then the others ; lastly, the Frolic. They were compelled to make a couple of tacks before they could fetch clear out. The Port Admiral and Admiral Superintendent in yachts accompanied by a host of yachts and miscellaneous vessels, then made out with the squadron, forming one most enlivening and animated group. At about five o'clock the squadron tacked and shortened sail, standing slowly in on the starboard tack. The Pilot sloop, in heaving in stays while working out, threw herself athwart hawse of the Sharpshooter, 4-gun iron schooner, by which the fore channels of the Pilot were slightly damaged, and the Sharpshooter's jib-boom was carried away ; the latter vessel in consequence bore up, and left the squadron at about six o'clock, about which time all the members tacked to the port tack off the land, and soon after bore up. At half-past-six they rounded to on the port tack and hove to ; about seven o'clock they were joined by the Racer, 12 gun sloop, Lieutenant Bacon, from Plymouth, which remained and proceeded in company. About a quarter past seven, the Lords of the Admiralty returned to the Lightning steamer, from the St. Vincent, on board which ship they and their illustrious friends had been handsomely entertained by Sir Charles Napier, and were saluted on their departure from the harbour, which they left about half-past eight, to return to London by a special train on the South-Western Railway. After the Lords of the Admiralty and guests left the flag-ship St. Vincent, the squadron made sail with a light breeze, at E.N.E., and were out of sight from Spithead by sunset. Admiral Dundas and Captain Milne, of the Admiralty, were guests of the Port Admiral Sir Charles Ogle on Saturday night. The Dragon steam-frigate, Captain Hall, will not be in a fit state to follow the squadron for about ten days. The Reynard screw schooner, fitted out at Woolwich, will be ready most likely before her. The Sharpshooter got back to Spithead as quickly as she could after her collision, and went into Portsmouth harbour yesterday to repair damages. The Collingwood and Kingfisher, dismantled, will be paid off this day, or to-morrow, at Portsmouth. The Hermes steam-sloop, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday to be attached to the steam squadron in ordinary. The Rifleman screw schooner, similar class vessel to the Sharpshooter, was ready to join the squadron of exercise on Saturday, after being commissioned on that day by Lieutenant Crofton. She will be a tender to the Powerful, 84 guns, at Spithead. SG & SGTL ; Vol 5 ; Page 273. ^ back to top ^ |